Stories about History from September, 2013
Phuket-themed Stamps in Thailand
Mark Jochim features Thailand stamps that showcase the beauty and culture of Phuket, a popular island tourism destination. Interestingly, he notes that Phuket-themed stamps do not include the famous beaches of Phuket.
“Fetishization of Somoni” Continues in Tajikistan
As Tajikistan's president unveils yet another statue of national icon Ismoil Somoni, blogger Tomiris criticizes [ru] monument monoculture in the country: Don't we have other historical figures to erect statues to? Was Somoni really the only one of its kind? I understand that this fetishization of Somoni is a political...
No Handshakes for US and Iran, But Hope Prevails
Presidents Obama and Rouhani delivered speeches at the UN General Assembly in New York that delivered some hope for future relations, but not much more.
Latin America: “Where do the Disappeared go?”
The internet is a source of innumerable initiatives and stories that remember the disappeared and fight against impunity.
Latin America Remembers the Disappeared
The disappearance of people has left a profound footprint in Latin America, where cases of disappearance still exist today. Photographs, songs and blogs help to keep memories alive.
After 25 Years, Iran Still Haunted by Mass Executions of 1988
Twenty-five years ago thousands of political prisoners were executed by Iran's regime.
90% of Madagascar Lives On Less Than Two Dollars a Day. Why?
This chapter of our analysis of the crisis in Madagascar discusses the under-covered causes of the economic decline of the island and the proposed solutions.
For Chinese, Violence in the Middle East Sparks Debate on Democracy, Stability
The crackdown Egypt reminds Chinese people of the Tiananmen Crackdown 24 years ago. Some make use of the violence as a warning to advocators for democracy and social changes in China.
Is a Monument to Chechen Women an Affront to Russia?
Ramzan Kadyrov caused an outcry in the blogosphere when he dedicated a monument to a group of Chechen women who died during the Caucasus Wars in the 19th century.
Victor Jara: Music In Search of Justice 40 Years After His Murder
The musical legacy of Victor Jara transcends national borders, just as the call to justice requires the extradition of one of the soldiers who murdered him 40 years ago.
Chile Coup Recounted Through Interactive Storytelling
The online version of Chilean newspaper La Tercera released an interactive, multimedia special [es, en] on the 40th anniversary of the coup against Salvador Allende. Mariana Santos worked with the team behind this project as an ICFJ Knight International Journalism Fellow. Mariana says that “the goal was to tell this...
Ancient Pyramid Destroyed in Peru as Developers Eye Land
Peruvians are struggling to protect a 4,000-year-old archaeological site that is being threatened by real estate development.
Its Getting Hot In Sri Lanka
Blogger sEnEl informs that during recent months Sri Lankans experienced some of the hottest days in their lifetimes. The blogger attributes the reason for the erratic weather to the global climate change.
‘Never Again': Chileans Look Back on Coup, 40 Years On
Forty years ago today, Chilean socialist President Salvador Allende was overthrown in a coup d’état which marked the beginning of a 17 year-long military dictatorship led by Augusto Pinochet.
Allende and Pinochet, the Comparison that Divides Chileans
The 40th anniversary of the coup d'état that overthrew Salvador Allende has revived the debate about the Allende government and the legacy of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.
Hundreds of Chileans File Complaints Against TV Show on Pinochet Dictatorship
The complaints against the program suggest that Chile is still divided by an event that marked its history 40 years ago.
Don't Say Millions Starved During China's Great Famine. Try ‘Nutritional Death’ Instead
A professor recently claimed that previous estimates that 30 million people died during the Great Chinese Famine is rumor. According to him, the difficult period caused 2.5 million "nutritional deaths".
100 Million Signature Campaign for Resolution of Japan's ‘Sex Slaves’ Issues
The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has launched a new campaign to gather 100 million signatures. Their online petition, in eight different languages, calls on Japanese government to offer an official apology and legal reparations to the victims and asks the international community to join their cause....